Establishes that individuals, including undocumented immigrants, are eligible to pay in-state tuition rates at community colleges in Maryland, provided the student meets certain conditions relating to attendance and graduation from a Maryland high school, filing of income taxes, intent to apply for permanent residency, and registration with the selective service system (if required); makes such students eligible to pay in-state tuition rates at a four-year public college or university if the student has first completed 60 credit hours or graduated from a community college in Maryland; provides that students qualifying for in-state tuition rates by this method will not be counted as in-state students for purposes of counting undergraduate enrollment; and extends the time in which honorably discharged veterans may qualify for in-state tuition rates.

BALTIMORE -- Voters likened Maryland referendum Question 4 to a dream come true for children of illegal immigrants as the measure passed on Election Day Tuesday.

Question 4 asked voters to decide whether to approve or reject the law that would allow undocumented individuals to pay in-state tuition rates at public institutions of higher education.

"This is going to be a tremendous affirmation of the goodness of the people of our state. The people of our state understand that we're all in this together, that we are one, that our cause is one and (what) we do to make the dream of a college education a real opportunity for every child in Maryland," Gov. Martin O'Malley said at a victory party.

The decade-long fight culminated Tuesday with passage of Question 4, which offers to children of illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition Maryland colleges and universities.

The victory comes more than a year after O'Malley signed the Dream Act into law, a fight that supporters have said was over fairness.

"It means a lot to me. At least I know I would be able to go to school without worrying about paying a lot of money, without asking a lot of people for help to be able to go to college," said Cindy Kolade, a student at Baltimore City Community College.

Kolade has paid out-of-state tuition despite her having graduated from a Maryland high school.

"I was going crazy," she said. "I stopped my homework (when the referendum was called) because I was jumping everywhere, calling everybody, saying thank you for voting for Question 4, and I was just emotional."

Come Jan. 1, Kolade's college bill will reduce by more than half. With the Dream Act now law, Kolade saves $120.

Jesus Berez, also a Maryland high school graduate, said he can now afford to start school in January.

"Personally, it means I will be able to attend community college here -- for example, BCCC in Baltimore -- and get a higher education and give back to my mom, the community here in Baltimore and to be able to study communications one day," Berez said.

It's a dream that now seems closer to reality for thousands of Maryland students.

"It's going to be very important. At least, I know that I will be able to (afford) school. I will just focus on my books and not, 'How am I going to pay for school?'" Kolade said.

"It's a fight, and it comes with a lot of hard work, a lot of dedication," Berez said. "Here we are today saying, 'Yes, we did it,' and, 'United we can.'"

Under this law, students who qualify for the tuition break must start at a Maryland community college. Once they graduate, or earn 60 credit hours, they can qualify for the same discount at a four-year Maryland college or university.

The governor's office released the following statement on the Dream Act:

"Marylanders guided by our belief in the dignity of every individual have chosen to make the dream of a college education a reality for every child. In order to expand opportunity, we've chosen to hold down the costs of college tuition for Maryland families more than any other state.

"Marylanders of all ethnic and racial backgrounds -- black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Muslim, Jewish -- came together to make this possible, reminding us that in Maryland, our diversity is our greatest strength."

The Maryland Industrial Areas Foundation released a statement and said it rejoiced with its coalition partners -- Educating Maryland Kids, MSEA, NAACP,CASA de Maryland, SEIU, Maryland Catholic Conference and others -- in the historic victory for the youth and nation.

"We rejoice and give praise that Marylanders pushed our state out in front as a beacon to other states and to our president in how we treat the stranger in our midst. We rejoice and give praise that Marylanders put into flesh the most repeated commandment in the Bible, ‘To love the stranger as thyself.’ But most importantly, we rejoice for Yannick, Francisco, Yves, Steve, Bernice and all our youth, whether they were born in Senegal, El Salvador, Jamaica or France, youth who live here now, and have graduated from our Maryland schools, will have equal opportunity to pay in-state tuition rates and pursue their dreams," said Bishop Douglas Miles, chairman of Maryland Industrial Areas Foundation (MD-IAF).

The NAACP released the following statement Tuesday evening on the passed measure.

"The Dream Act provides an opportunity for all Maryland students to have equal access to higher education. This is a crucial step toward building socially and economically healthy communities," said NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous. "Marylanders recognize that we may have come to this country in different boats, but we’re all in the same boat now."

"Marylanders voted today to bring our state together,” said NAACP Maryland State Conference President Gerald Stansbury. “The Dream Act is a vote for civil rights, equality and community stability."

A recent NAACP poll of black voters in battleground states (Florida, Georgia, Ohio, and Virginia) found that 93 percent of respondents favor a national version of the Dream Act.